Our son Matt has brought such joy to us and through him we have learnt so many things about ourselves and life. He has a rare genetic syndrome called Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome. This blog is where we process the things we have learnt, where we share our challenges and pains, and where we celebrate small victories.

Matthew.I have seen your riverbright and full and sparkling with fish,green and gleaming things.

I have waded waded intothe water deeply,clumsily hoping to catch wordsto show this picture, this love, this dream.

Matthew.A man – a man – once made many fish from twoleaving over so muchthe basket-carriers didn’t knowwhat to do.

This man kneads the bread of life,feeding need until more is leftover than all we ask or imagine;Cups that flow overAnd overAnd over

This man, this GOD I know,His words changed into a streamand the stream flows with life.Can you hear Him callingthe fishermen to fish untilthey become the stream?Calling soft-handed masters to washTheir servants’ dusty feet,and hoarders to casttheir bread upon the waters?

Matthew J.Tooke mayyour life be filled withpools of greenness like your eyesthe blue of water,grey pregnant skies;may your life be floodedwith these things I love for you –may yours be the riverof revelations twenty-twoand yours the waterof psalm twenty-three.

Jesus chose to be around small children a number of times in his ministry, often over the objections of his disciples. Sometimes he seems to have done this in order to hold children up as examples of the childlike qualities that enable God's Realm. But maybe, sometimes, he just wanted to hold them.

Man’s history often intertwinesWith strands of mystery from the weavers handAnd Grace is often seen from weeping eyeAs counter to our hopes of bright benevolence

Thus we all with puzzlement and with dreadReceived the news of something different and obscure.That seemed to mark a harder weaker poorer lifeFor one we all held dear and longed to take upon our breast.

At first it seemed we had the right to mourn what could have beenAnd see, in all the trial and stress of giving nourishmentTo one who hardly knew the method and the meansthe anxious cause and reason for our fear.

And more malignant yet reports of deeper threatThat strangled the vital capacities to breathe and live.Four times it seems the journey went to the limit of his lifeAnd revealed the fragile, journey of our infant child

But from his soul there came a surer signA toughness to endure, to carry onCourage like a lion began to beat and this small warriorLike Hercules to kill the snake, reached out to claim his right to live.

And peeping from his seeking eyes came looksThat seemed amazed at us as thoughNothing quite so good or cute or grandCould possibly be true or real

And smiles exploding from beneath his noseQuite made the world ignite with mirthand we forgot all else to take his leadand follow in his bright delight.

And fists that clench and legs that kickMore dangerous than a Springbok packAnd voice that cries imperiously“Come and get me if you dare!”

One thing is sure it is our hopeThat in some loss can lie perfection’s wayThat weakness is the preface to a strengthThat uncertainty is quite the cause for faith

The poor will prosper and the last come firstThe least will yet be greatest you will seeAnd service may be offered bestBound up in the cords of small humility

So Welcome Matt you are much more than hopeYou foster triumph as you goWe hold to you in ever greater joyTo banish fear and past regret

Here are our hands our hearts our helpOur arms to lift the burdens on the wayYour dates with destiny we’re sureAre kept within the Grace of God.

Love is:funny enough very hard to define - but it gives us a nice, warm fuzzy feeling that keeps on growing - and my love for you just keeps on growing - deeper and deeper - and I am SO happy that you were born into our family.

Love is also:your sweet smiles that make the sun come out - even in bad weather. You are holding the light, which shows US the way - even your strength is a great example to us.

Love is even:when you show your independence by showing intense interest in something or an absolute dislike for something else. There is sooo much to

learn - and will we all love to help you. :-)

Love is definitely also:the many special moments we have had together - right from the beautiful, starry evening when you were born - to the day when you asked me for a sip of milk from a really big cup. I simply love those impromptu moments and am looking forward to many, many more :-)

Love is alsowhen God hears all our prayers for you - right from people in places near the end of Africa right through to people in places near the top of Europe.

But Love is so much more, Matthewwhat really counts - is for all of us to live lovingly together - just like God always wanted his children to live - and I am sooo thankful, that you were born one of God's children - and that you are the son of Jacqui and Lloyd -

Love

The Bible says that if we have not LOVE then we are nothing "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7

nothing nothingWe are nothing without LOVE

It does not say if we learn to crawl long after most children crawl we are nothing It does not say if we struggle to learn how to speak we are nothingIt does not say if we grow up dependent on others we are nothingNo it says if we have not LOVE then we are nothing

This is helping us to free ourselves from worrying about Matt's development.

Rather, our goal is to let Matthew know he is LOVEDAnd to help him unlock the deep well of LOVE that God has placed in his heart...For then he will have LOVE and he will be something

Followers

RTS in South Africa

Connect more with others who have family members with RTS. Find out more about what resources there are in South Africa. Visit the RTS South Africa website:http://www.rts-southafrica.weebly.com/